Hospitality
People in Van are known for their hospitality. When you enter a restaurant or shop, you will often hear "Hoş geldiniz" (welcome). The polite reply is "Hoş bulduk" (glad to be here).
Tea culture
Tea is at the heart of daily life. Served in small tulip-shaped glasses, it is offered while you bargain in a shop and when you visit someone's home. Accepting a glass of tea is a sign of friendship.
Nowruz
Nowruz, celebrated on 21 March, is welcomed with great enthusiasm in Van. Bonfires are lit, people dance the halay and families head out into the countryside. For visitors from Iran, it is both a familiar and a colourful experience.
Wedding traditions
- Marriage usually begins with kız isteme, when the two families meet and discuss the wedding plans.
- A henna night is held the evening before the wedding.
- Weddings are often large celebrations with halay dancing to drum and zurna.
Everyday etiquette
- When visiting mosques, wear clothes that cover shoulders and knees; women should cover their hair.
- Shoes are taken off when entering homes.
- Ask before photographing people.
- In Türkiye, only civil marriage is legally recognised and polygamy is illegal.